Rock n Roll Redux

Just under eight weeks to go, and I am getting prepped for the 2009 Marathon. I had to take most of a month off to heal a strained (or pulled, or lightly torn) calf, but thanks to deep tissue massage and more strecthing and patience, I am back in the groove. I ran 51 miles last week, with a long run of 14 miles.

For the coming week I’ll do about the same mileage, but up the long run to 20. I always told the runners I coached that long runs were the single most important variable in finishing a marathon. And they are.

Since it had been over two years since I ran a full marathon, I ran the Missoula, MT Marathon this July and surprised myself with an age-group win off a relatively low mileage regimen. That it was 45 degrees at Missoula and 105 here may have been a factor in my favor

The biggest change in my running has been to take more rest days and give my body a better chance to recover. When I was 30-something running six or even seven days a week was no big deal, but thirty years later, my legs are saying, ‘beat me up and we’ll pay you back.’

My advice: get in those long runs in the coming weeks, but take days off. Give your body a rest.